Methods of determining coverage areas

Abstract

A method of determining coverage areas in a communication system includes determining, by a controller, a plurality of base stations in the communication system and determining, by the controller, a Voronoi region for each of the plurality of base stations. The Voronoi region corresponds to the coverage area for the base station. Each location in the Voronoi region is closest to the base station than any other base station of the plurality of base stations.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of determining coverage areas in a communication system, the method comprising:
 first determining, by a controller, a plurality of base stations in the communication system, the controller being configured to communicate with the plurality of base stations and coordinate scheduling and transmission for the plurality of base stations; and 
 second determining, by the controller, a Voronoi region for each of the plurality of base stations, the Voronoi region corresponding to the coverage area for the base station and each location in the Voronoi region is closest to the base station than any other base station of the plurality of base stations. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second determining are performed if the controller detects another base station in the communication system or if the controller cannot not communicate with one of the plurality of base stations. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second determining determines the Voronoi region based on the base station being a generating point of the Voronoi region. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second determining determines the Voronoi region for each of the plurality of base stations, the Voronoi regions not overlapping. 
     
     
       5. A method of analyzing performance of a communication system, the method comprising:
 determining, by a first base station including at least one antenna, at least one vertex of a Voronoi region, the Voronoi region corresponding to a coverage area for the base station, each location in the Voronoi region is closest to the base station than any other base stations, and the at least one vertex corresponding to a maximum transmitting distance. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 second determining, by the first base station, a transmit power based on the at least one vertex of the Voronoi region. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the first base station, a pilot signal at the transmit power. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second determining determines the transmit power further based on a path loss threshold. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 third determining, by the first base station, a tilt angle for the at least one antenna based on the at least one vertex of the Voronoi region. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the first base station, a pilot signal at the tilt angle. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 second determining, by the first base station, a tilt angle for the at least one antenna based on the at least one vertex of the Voronoi region. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the first base station, a pilot signal at the tilt angle.